PLUGGED IN?

Scripture: John 14:15-27

We recently had a heater/air conditioning unit installed in our 3-season room to make the room useful year-round.  We hired a handyman experienced in working with such units.  And after several hours of work, it looked great, was solidly attached through the wall and ready to do its work of climate control in our room.  Only one problem – we don’t have a 220 volt power source to that room!  So it sits there, a bundle of potential but doing nothing to help heat the room.  What needs to be done? We need to have an electrician connect it to a 220 circuit.

As I read this passage in John 14, I thought of our non-working heating unit.  Jesus was with his disciples for one of the last times before he would ascend.  They had sat under his teaching for 3 years, learning what it means to follow Jesus fully.  They were full of potential, ready to work for the Kingdom.  But they had no power to do what was required – it was too big a job, needing greater strength and wisdom than they had as humans.  The resistance to their work would be too great.

So, Jesus told his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit when he returned to the Father.  “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor (or Advocate) to be with you forever (vs 16).”  Further, he gave more description of the Holy Spirit’s purpose: Since he is the Spirit of Truth, he will teach the disciples all things;  and, since he promised to be with and in Christ’s disciples, the Holy Spirit will remind them of everything Jesus said.

These are potential benefits the Holy Spirit has for all disciples – but how do we get plugged in?  Jesus tells us 3 different times in this passage:

·         If you love me, you will obey what I command (vs 15)

·         Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me (vs 21)

·         If anyone love me, he will obey my teaching (vs 23)

Did you get that answer?  Loving God, shown through obedience, connects us to the Holy Spirit’s power. 

The result?

·         All the promises God offers through the Holy Spirit are ours (God’s presence, his truth, his wisdom, his help in trouble)

·         We have the peace of Christ in our hearts

 

Do you want more power in your life to be able to do what God calls you to do?  Get “Plugged In" to the Power Source 

by loving God and obeying him.

 

 

[BTW, we just got power to our heater, and our plants in the 3-season room are happy!]

 

 

Are you Called to Play Golf?

Jude 17-25

 

 

Do you live in a bubble? Are you out of touch with the real world? Normally, we speak like this when we refer to a corporate office, or maybe those who are in an ivory tower; not ourselves. Recently though, I had a wakeup call.

 

About once a year, I have the opportunity to play in a golf outing through work that is sponsored by a vendor. It’s great to get out of the office for the day and to get paid to do it. In addition, the day we played was absolutely beautiful. The down side is my game, if you can call it that. I’m terrible.

 

Fortunately, I was put on a foursome with two brothers that apparently spend most of their work week on the course rather than behind a desk. However, as good as they were at golf, it was uncomfortable to play with them at times.

 

Throughout the day, one of them liberally sprinkled his comments with curse words and the other drank himself silly. Together, they made crude comments about women. They were a couple of “real sinners”. It was an eye opening experience.

 

During the DVD presentation this week, Tim mentioned that he is intentional about connecting with non-Christians. As an example, he works out at a gym instead of at home. He also pointed out that the longer we are a Christian, the more likely it is that most of our friends, and as a result who we socialize with, are Christians. So what happens to the guys at the gym or out on the golf course?

 

Jesus was judged for spending time with sinners. He had dinner with tax collectors, healed those who were unclean, hung out with prostitutes and common fishermen. I wonder if Peter cursed or if Matthew told dirty jokes? I wonder if it was uncomfortable for Jesus to hang out with them at times? I wonder if they were as crude and as lost as the brothers that I golfed with?

 

Jude, the brother of Jesus, wrote, “^20-21 But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! ^22-23 Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.”

 

Tim Harlow suggested that maybe we need to replace some of our “religious” activities with secular activities. Based on this, I’m thinking that maybe Jesus is calling me to play golf on a regular basis, but I don’t think my wife will buy it.

What could you do to be intentional to connect with sinners? It may be uncomfortable, and you might even be judged for it. But if not you, then who?

 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jude%201%3A17-25&version=NIV;MSG
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/niv/Jude.1.17-Jude.1.25